Heartbroken after his team’s loss to Algeria, Mboladinga won over the fans and left a lasting impression on the tournament.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after a heartbreaking extra time. damage to Algeria, but their most famous supporter has made a lasting impression on football fans and players alike.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, who became an instant fan favorite and social media star for his unique tribute to his country’s hero Patrice LumumbaAfter a meeting with the Algerian team at his hotel on Wednesday, he bid farewell to the AFCON.
Dressed in brightly colored suits, Mboladinga stood out among the thousands of DR Congo fans as he stood still with his right arm raised during all of his team’s games at the tournament.
One fan paid tribute to X, writing, “The fan who went viral for standing still throughout the match becomes an AFCON symbol of pride, memory and resilience.
At the start of each match, Mboladinga would step on his feet and strike a pose, imitating Lumumba’s memorial statue in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
But he was left devastated when his team Algeria were knocked out of the tournament by Adil Bulbina in the 119th minute.
Nicknamed Lumumba Via by Congolese supporters, Mboladinga removed his glasses, wiped away his tears and, in his final act, fell back into the crowd at the end of his side’s last-16 tie.
To add insult to injury, Emboladinga was jeered by Algerian player Mohamed Amoura, who ran into the Congolese winger, mimicked a fan’s pose and fell to the floor in glee.
Amoura’s gesture was widely criticized on social media, with fans calling for him to apologize to Mboladinga and the Congolese nation.
“He (Mboladinga) is bringing visibility to a historical figure who fought for Congolese independence and stood united against the Algerian revolution,” wrote sports journalist Leila Hamed.
The Algerian forward later posted an apology on social media, saying he did not know the meaning and history of the DR Congo fan’s gesture.
“I wanted to tease in good nature, without any ill intent,” he wrote.
“I respect Congo and his team.”
To further improve, the Algerian Football Association invited Mboladinga to the team hotel on Wednesday. He met the players and was given a personalized Algerian team shirt with Lumumba emblazoned on the back.
DR Congo is ranked 56th in the FIFA world rankings and is on course to qualify for the World Cup 2026 by booking a place in the inter-confederation playoff final on March 31.